Wire striping device



May 27, 1958 K. H. WEBER WIRE STRIPING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 DRYER X STRIPING UNIT INVENTOR.

KARL H. WEBER BY Z May 27, 1958 K. H. WEBER WIRE STRIPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1955 3 Shegts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR KARL H. WEBER M 3 l m 22.4 806 r p uv l r O 6 Y I &o a

I F mmr/ May 27, 1958 K. H. WEBER WIRE STRIPING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 7, 1955 II! I ll INVENTOR.

KARL H. WEBER Ufl fid States Patent WIRE STRIPING DEVICE Karl H. Weber, Toledo, Ohio Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,340

8 Claims. (Cl. 118-221) This invention relates to a striping device for electrical conductors, which incorporates a means for supplying ink to the striper mechanism to allow substantially continuous operation of the device.

Devices for placing a distinctive ink stripe or stripes on the outer surface of insulated conductors or the like, such as disclosed by Hargreaves et al. Patent No. 2,344,610, have the disadvantage that the ink supply available during operation of the device is limited with the result that the device is not suitable for use in continuous production. The machine must be stopped after a short period of operation for the purpose of replenishing the ink supply which makes the machine limited in its application to modern manufacturing processes. I

The present invention contemplates the provision of a means for replenishing and supplying ink to the striping device which can be controlled, so that no stoppage of the striping machine is necessary and continuous operation thereof becomes feasible.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an ink supply means for a striping machine which continuously circulates the ink and which is provided with a controlled supply to replenish ink to the system as it is being used, and also to maintain a controlled supply of ink in the system. i It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an ink-striping device for insulated conductors or the like which is capable of substantially continuous operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an ink-supplying means for a wire-striping machine which circulates the ink continuously, maintains the ink at a predetermined level to control the quantity of ink in the machine, and adds ink to the system to replenish the supply as it is being used by the machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combinations of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a complete machine incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with its cover removed, of the striper unit;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation with some parts removed of the striper unit;

Fig. 3A is a view of a conductor or strand striped by the machine;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken partially along line 44 of Fig. 2 having one rotatable inking unit shown as in Fig. 3 aligned therewith;

, Fig. 5 is an elevational view, in section, taken partially along line 5-5 of Fig. 2 with the elements of the second inking unit in alignment;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, in section, taken partially along line 66 of Fig. 2 with the third inking unit in alignment;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the inking units;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 2 showing the details of an ink supply reservoir; and

Figs. 10 to 12 are elevational views of details of construction.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Fig. l, a' striping machine is shown to which the invention has been applied, comprising a base member 20, mounted on legs 22, adjacent a supply reel 24 rotatably held in a fixed member 26, the reel being filled with insulated wire to which the identifying stripe is to be applied. The end of the continuous strand S of insulated wire is lead into the striping device through a wire tension unit T, thence through a drive mechanism D into the striping unit U,

I of revolutions per foot of the strand S passing through thence through a dryer X, and into a second tension unit T' and finally into the take-up spool or drum Y, which is suitably driven by an electric motor M so as to pull the strand S through the various stations of the machine from the supply spool or reel 24. The drive unit D is actuated by the pull on the strand in a manner to rotate the striping mechanism as will be described hereinafter.

A small portion of the strand S is shown in Fig. 3A, where the stripes are shown in relation to the strands outer surface. The spirals are preferably three in number, spaced at selected intervals, preferably uniformly spaced and given contrasting colors and varying widths, so that the strand may be instantly recognized by these markings to facilitate making intricate connections between various instrumentalities at widely separated locations.

The tension devices T and T' located on opposite sides of the striping unit are well known in the art and may take many forms and will, therefore, not be described in detail. These units are intended to maintain a substantially uniform tension on the strand S as it passes through the striping unit, and may consist of several sheaves, about which the strand S passes, one of which is provided with a drag member or brake as is well known.

The strand S of insulated wire, after passing through the first tension device T, enters the driving unit D by passing around sheave 30, which is suitably journaled about a fixed pintle mounted in the side of the base 20, the pintle also rotatably mounting arm 32 on whose outer end roller 34 is mounted to contact the periphery of a second double sheave 36, around which the strand S is threaded. The double sheave 36 has two peripheral grooves, both of which are engaged by the strand S, the first receiving the strand as it comes from the sheave 30, while the second groove is engaged by the strand as it comes from a third sheave 38 rotatably mounted in space relation to the double sheave 36. The double sheave 36 and the next single sheave 38 are geared to gether by a central idler gear 40. The two sheaves with their cooperating gear are rotatably mounted in fixed spaced relation on fixed journals mounted on the base 20 as shown in Fig. 1. From the second groove in the sheave 36, the strand S proceeds upwardly into the bore of a central rotating shaft 42 of the striper unit (Fig.

3) which is rotated by a gear chain consisting of bevel gears 44 and 46, and spur gears 48 and 50, which transmit rotative motion from the double sheave or gear 36 to the hollow central shaft 42 at a predetermined ratio, so that the shaft 42 will rotate a predetermined number wheels by the action of centrifugal force; The upper side of the pocket is formed by wall 184, while the rear side is provided by downwardly-slanted wall 186, so that-ink or dye thrown against this wall will move downwardly to flow outwardly through vent pipes 188 which return the dye or ink to the outer annular pockets 82, 84 and 85 and thereby recirculates the ink or dye from each wheel in its own system which is in excess of the amount required by the wheels for actual marking of the strand S. The ink or dye supply mechanisms will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 3, which illustrates wheel 16$. aligned with its sump 112 on the base 64 brought about by rotating turn table 72 to show the relation of tubes in the recirculating system, it will be noted that the lower periphery of the wheel 169 is engaged to rotate in a slot 190 positioned in the upper end of a generally verticallydisposed tube 152, fitted into cooperating bores in the floor 194 of the member 169 and in the turn table 72 to cooperate with the innermost annular ink pocket 89. When the turn table '72 is rotated about the axis of the strand S, t.e tube is moved in a circular orbit, centering in the pocket 3%. The lower face 196 of the tube 192 is cut ofli obliquely as is best seen in Fig. 10, so that it forms a scoop to pick up ink or dye in the pocket 80, to force it upwardly to flow through the slot 1% to contact the periphery of the marking wheel 16d. Surplus ink or dye is removed from the wheel by a doctor blade 1% which wipes both sides of the wheel to collect the surplus ink whereby the action of centrifugal force is active to throw the dye outwardly against the oblique rearward wall 186 of the housing to flow out through the tube 188 to be recirculated in the system already described. The doctor blade is attached to the front side of the member 169 in any convenient manner as by a rivet, a retainer wall 205 being provided to retain any surplus ink in the pocket 183 above the level of the pipe 18%. The ink or dye is retained on the serrated periphery of the wheel 16% and is carried thereby to the strand S to form a spiral mark thereon as shown in Fig. 3A, as the rotation of the unit occurs about it. Fig. 4 illustrates the ink supply system of the same wheel res as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 5, a second tube 282 is provided for the marking disc 15%, as shown in Fig. 11, being provided with a deeper slot 2% on its upper end, to cooperate with the periphery of the disc. T he tube 2492 is also positioned in cooperating bores in the floor of the member 169 which houses it and the turn table '72 but is juxtaposed radially outwardly to engage the central ink pocket 78 in the member 64. As shown in the drawing, a scoop 295 is provided at its bottom end. A drain tube 206 extends outwardly to engage the central outer pocket 84 to recirculate the surplus ink. in other respects the device is the same as the one described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 6,. a third tube 293 is provided to cooperate with the marking wheel 162 shown in Fig. 12. Here a slot 21% is provided in the forward wall of the tube with the upper end of the tube open to allow escape of surplus ink flowing up the tube by the action of the scoop 212 during rotation in the outer ink pocket 76. The back side of the marking wheel 152 cooperates with the slot to supply ink to its perimeter, the tube 238 being mounted farther outwardly in a radial direction in cooperating bores in the floor of the housing and the turn table to be rotatable in the locus of the ink pocket 76. The drain tube 234 extends outwardly to engage in the outer return pocket 82, as shown, to recirculate surplus ink in the no manner as before. In other respects, the device is the same as the other two already described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Fig. 2, the three wheels are juxtaposed about the strand 5 to contact the strand in about the same zone where all the marking occurs, all being positioned on the skew, so that several continuous spiral markings are formed on the surface of the strand as it moves through this zone. The .turn table 72 mounting the marking wheels rotates about the strand as the strand moves upwardly, and ink is scooped up by the lower ends of the tubes 192, 292 and 208, by the scoop-like lower openings 196, 2il5 and 212, to force the ink upwardly to impinge against the periphery of each of the marking wheels. Some turbulence occurs in the pockets 76, 78 and 8t) and to prevent flow and mixing of ink or dye therebetween, annular depending skirts 214 on the turn table 72 are provided adjacent the adjoining wall between the pockets. As surplus ink is removed from the wheels by Y the doctor blades 198, it is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and recirculated through the interconnecting ducts of various systems serving each wheel.

To protect the mechanism from dust and interference, a stationary cap 216 is provided for the ink-retaining base member to cover the wheels and the rotating turn table 72. A central hole 218 is provided, through which theupwardly-moving strand S passes to the heater which dries the ink. Thereafter the strand is pulled to the storage spool as already described.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of the present invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to those skilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of theinvention is employed for purposes of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed:

1. In a device of the class described, means to move an elongated substantially cylindrical object through a. zone to contact the periphery of rotatably mounted wheels whose axes are on the skew to apply ink in spiral paths to the surface of the object, a plate rotatably mounting the wheels adapted to rotate about the object in a trans verse plane in timed relation thereto, a stationary ink storage member having ink retaining pockets therein, there being a pocket for each wheel, ink-conveying means including a scoop cooperating with each wheel and its corresponding ink pocket to carry ink from the pocket and apply it to the periphery of the wheels as they are being rotated about the object so that the ink is applied to the surface of the obiect by the wheels as they are rotated by the peripheral contactual relation between the object and the wheels.

2. In a device of the class described, means to move an elongated substantially cylindrical object through a zone to contact the periphery of a rotatably mounted wheel whose axis is on the skew to apply ink in a spiral path to the surface of the object, a plate rota'tably mounting the wheel adapted to rotate about the object in a transerse plane in timed relation thereto, a stationary ink storage member positioned below the plate having an annular ink-retaining pocket therein, ink-conveying means mounted in the plate cooperating with the wheel and its ink pocket to apply ink to the periphery of the Wheel as it is being rotated about the object so that the ink is applied to the surface of the object by the wheel as it is rotated by the peripheral contactual relation between the object and the wheel.

3. in a device of the class described, means to move an elongated substantially cylindrical object through a zone to contact the periphery of a rotatably mounted wheel whose axis is on the skew to apply ink in a spiral path to the surface of the object, a plate rotatably mounting the wheel adapted to rotate about the object in a transverse plane in timed relation thereto, a stationary ink storage member mounted below the plate having an annular r ink-retaining pocket athereinconcentric; with thedongitudinal'axis' of the object, tubularink-conveying means dcpending from the plate cooperating with thewheeltat its upper end and with the ink pocket at its lower end, having its opening exposed in the direction of rotation to'pick .7 up "ink and apply it tothe'periphery of the wheel as the assembly is being rotated about the object, so that the inkis applied to the surface of the object by the periphery of the wheel as it is'rotated by the peripheral contactual in relation between the object and the wheel.

' 4. In adevice of the class deseribed, means to move an elongated substantially cylindrical'object through a zone to contact the periphery of rotatably mounted wheels whose axes are on the skew to apply ink in'several spiral paths to the surface of the object, a plate rotatably mounting the wheels adapted to rotate about the object in a transverse planein timed relation thereto, a stationary ink storagemember having annular concentric ink-retaining pockets in its upper surface, therefbeing a pocket for each wheel, tube-like ink-conveying means positioned in substantially vertical position in the plate cooperating at their upper ends with'each wheel and at their lower ends with the corresponding ink pocket to scoop up ink therefrom and to apply ink to the periphery of the wheels ascthey are being rotated about the object so that the inkis applied tothe surface of the object by the wheels as they I a are rotated by the peripheral contactual relation between the object and the wheels.

5. 'In a device ofthe class described, means to move an elongated substantially cylindrical object through a zone to' contact the periphery of rotatably mounted wheels whose axes are on the skew to apply ink in spiral paths to the surface of the object, a plate rotatably mounting the wheels adapted to rotate about the object in a transverse plane in timed relation thereto, a. stationary ink storage member having open ink-retaining pockets in its upper surface concentric with the axis of rotation of the plate, there being a pocket for each wheel, tubular inkconveying means includinga scoop at its lower end to cooperate with the wheels and the corresponding ink pockets to carry ink upwardly to apply it to the pen'phery of the wheels as they are being rotated about the object so that the ink is applied to the surface of the object by the wheels in separated spirals as they are rotated by the peripheral contactual relation between the object and the wheels. V

- 6 In a device of the class described, means to move an elongated substantially cylindrical object through a zone to contact the periphery of a rotatably mounted wheelwhose axis is on the skew to apply inkin a spiral path to the surface of the object, a plate rotatably mountingthe wheel adapted to rotate about the object in a transverse plane in timed relation thereto, a stationary ink storage member mounted below the plate having apair of annular ink-retaining pockets therein connected together and concentric with the' longitudinal axis of the object, tubular ink-conveying means depending from the plate cooperating with the wheel. at its upper end and withthe inner ink pocket portion by means. of a scoopnat its lower end to pick up ink and apply, it .to the periphery I of the wheel as the assembly'isbeing rotated about'the object, catch means including a depending pipe extending wheel to be driven thereby and whose axis is con the'skew to apply ink in a spiralpath to. the surface of the object, a plate rotatably mounting the wheel adaptedto rotate. about the object in' a transverse plane in timed relation" thereto, a stationary ink storage member mounted below the plate having an inner'and an outer annular ink-retaining pocket therein being interconnected and concentric with thelongitudinal axis of the object, tubular ink-conveying means depending from the'plate cooperating with the wheeliat its upper end=by a slotted openingand with the ink pocket at its lower end by means of a scoop to pick up ink and apply it to alportion of the periphery of the wheel as the' assembly is being rotated aboutthe object, ink-catching means cooperating with the wheel including a depending pipe cooperating with the outer ink pocket to recirculate excess ink to the pockets, an ink supply to add ink to the pockets at a controllable rate and a the ink in the pockets at means to maintain the level of a predetermined point 7 V r i p 8. In a device of the class-described, means to move an insulated strand of substantially cylindrical cross-sec tion through a 20113120 contact the serrated periphery of a rotatably'mounted wheel to drive the same and whose.

axis is on the skew to apply ink in a spiral path to the surfaceof the strand a horizontal plate mounting the wheel adapted to rotate aboutthe strand in a horizontal retaining pocket in its upper surface concentric with the longitudinal axis' oftrotation of the plate, tubular ink conveying means depending from the plate cooperating withv the wheel at its upper end'by'means of a slot and with the ink pocket-at its lower end by a scoop which during relative rotation picks up ink and applies it to a portion of the periphery of the wheel adjacent the slot as the assembly is being rotated aboutthe strand, means to catch surplus ink thrown from the wheel by centrifugal force and return it to the pocket, and means to supply and control the level of the ink in the pocket.

the pockets and control Donnan Apr. 15,1952 Krukonis Aug. 24, 1954 

